Homeless Hired to Stand in Line at Pasadena Apple Store's iPhone 5S Launch, Marred by Scuffles

As long lines formed outside Apple stores across the country today, tempers flared at one in Pasadena, Calif., where homeless people from Skid Row said they were bused in and paid to save spots on line.

"They came by and they said they needed people to sit in line for the opening of the new i[Phone]5, and would we be willing to do it, and I just heard it and I came down and said, 'Sure, why not?'" Mickey from downtown Los Angeles told KABC.

Other people in line complained about the situation. Dariel Johnson, who said she had been waiting in line overnight said, "It's a lot of drama, almost fighting. So, it's an unpleasant experience."

Minor scuffles broke out at the store overnight and two men were arrested, said Pasadena police Lt. Jason Clawson. George Westbrook, 23, of Compton, and Lamar Mitchell, 43, of Pasadena, were arrested for fighting in line outside of the store, Clawson said.

About 200 people were waiting outside the store through the night, Clawson said, noting that officers had been dispatched to patrol the crowd.

The Skid Row recruits weren't the only ones who were hoping for a pay day for waiting in line. Joseph Cruz, 20, and Brain Ceballo, 19, were paid $800 to wear shirts from a company called SYM.com (Sell Your Mac), after being first in line outside Apple's iconic Cube store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.